367 

 PROMINENT YORKSHIRE WORKERS: 



IV.— C. CROSSLAND, F.L.S. 

 (plate XV.). 



It is always a pleasure to appreciate the sterling work of a 

 conscientious naturalist, and when it happens that his position 

 in the scientific world has been due entirely to his own efforts 

 and exertions, the pleasure becomes increased tenfold. In 

 Mr. Charles Crossland it can be safely said we have as eager 

 and enthusiastic a botanist as any in the county, and Yorkshire 

 is the proud possessor of many. In him we likewise have one 

 who has accomplished much for the benefit of botanical science 

 in general, and for his county in particular. 



Rather over a quarter of a century ago the subject of our 

 sketch, then at forty, and without the slightest botanical 

 knowledge, assisted one of his daughters to collect wild flowers 

 for a competition in connection with a Sunday School. A few 

 of the surplus flowers were dried and mounted ; the mounts 

 proving attractive, more followed. These brought him in 

 contact with Mr. U. Bairstow, and Mr. J. Wms. Sutcliffe, mem- 

 bers of the Halifax Scientific Society, and now members of the 

 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. They, and a few others, with 

 the aid of Hooker's Students' Flora, at once settled down to 

 the technical study of the classification of British flowering 

 plants. Very soon plant morphology and physiology were 

 added to their hobby, and the best and latest text books on 

 these branches of study were bought. This little group of 

 enthusiasts worked steadily away, with no teacher but their 

 books, entered for the Go\-ernment Examinations, and several 

 eventually succeeded in qualifying as teachers of botany. 



They were the means of forming a Natural History section 

 of the Halifax Scientific Society, which has proved very useful 

 for beginners. During the course of their stvidies they familiar- 

 ized themselves with their local flora, and with Mr. Crossland 

 as secretary, laid the foundation for the ' Flora of Halifax.' 



Mr. Crossland's method of mounting his dried plants has 

 always been admired. It may be stated that the light blue 

 tint of his mounting-sheets has led to several museum authorities 

 adopting the same colour for lining their cases. It certainly 

 improves the appearance of any natural object to which it forms 

 a background. 



1910 Oct. I. 



